I said currently in and around it. the squads required 3 or 4 quality players added each window... I'm not down for smashing down the foundations age rebuilding..
I've found myself agreeing with you a lot recently Pouchy and that is a concern. I'd say we're ok in most areas. GK and back line are midtable standard and we have depth. Wingers we are strong (so about 7 of our starting 11) We need a quality central midfielder and striker. With two players alone I'd move my expectations from 12-15th up to 8th-11th.
Every department needs an upgrade, particularly full back and striker. If this takeover ever happens, I imagine they'll just bring in a No 9 as a priority. There's enough support players to reduce the urgency and it's glamorous. Then it'll be full back, CB, CDM and possibly some young talent. You wouldn't want to rock the boat too much, not wise. We have good characters who aren't necessarily world beaters.
I thought that was a well thought out and informative post. I still think you are a wordy wummy twat. Is that what you mean?
**** me I think you can polish a turd after all I think they fell asleep on the sofa 5 tackles-one of which was on Shelvey 89% passing accuracy - 80% of which were backwards to CHs He did dribble a lot and spit We can agree to disagree You can manipulate stats to show anything
he played well and is part of why we played less hoofball.. he looks to pass and it's a hard role that looks easy on tv
I read an interesting thing on Klopp's journey to the title at Liverpool the other day. This was the starting 11 in his first game in charge :- Firmino was already at the club and he'd bought Mane and then brought Salah in and seemed to work his way backwards in the team in terms of "upgrading" The article is here and makes for quite good reading https://www.skysports.com/football/...er-jurgen-klopp-into-premier-league-champions What is abundantly clear from reading that is that there is absolutely no way Bruce can be left in charge when this takeover happens. We need a manager who is going to absolutely beast our players and demand 110% each and every game. High pressing, high intensity football with no time given to the opposition when they have the ball. Think of the 6 sec rule Barca have....that sort of thing. That is what the modern game is about now. City showed us that in the first half on Sunday, Liverpool have been doing it all season which is why they are so far ahead of everybody else. If we are to realistically challenge in the top 6 each and every season then this is the level we need to aspire to. There is 1 player at our club who is capable of being involved in that style of play - ASM. Everyone else will need to be replaced over time. Miggy may adapt with better players around him and a different style of play but these are the only 2 realistically who I could see still being at the club in 5 years time if we follow the Liverpool model.
Essentially my point about Bruce and Rafa. They are backwards steps. Ones which would only need undone at some stage. We are better off leaving them behind, with their older style, and move to the modern pressing styles which are required to progress. I disagree on Miggy, I think he can do that now. Funnily enough, Joelinton did really well in that style at Hoffenheim! However the vast majority are Rafa's players so yes they aren't really the most adept at playing that way. But you can coach it a bit. I also think someone like Manquillo can play that style too but in 5 years, maybe not still here. He is very energetic. Longstaff looked instantly better pressing the ball the other night. Him and his bro should be able to play that way. So there are those who are adaptable, but then others like Shelvey who just don't have it in the locker and aren't about to change now. We may have players who haven't looked good in this style, who show a new side to their game when asked to press too. I am massively in the camp of taking steps forward and not backwards. I don't want KK, Rafa or Bruce mentioned. Lets go something new and modern.